Why are 'tarps off' at College World Series? Explaining shirtless Ole Miss, UNC fans

Fans at Charles Schwab Field in the College World Series have gone shirtless.

It's a trending sweeping through sports called "Tarps Off."

The fans, typically younger men or boys, congregate in the stands. They take their shirts off and wave the shirts in circles like a rally towel. A group has done it as Ole Miss baseball's CWS opener against North Carolina on June 12.

Advertisement

Here's what to know about Tarps Off.

What is Tarps Off?

Tarps Off began during the 2025 college football season at an Oklahoma State game.

According to The Athletic, it started when a fan was bet $10 by his sister that he wouldn't go stand in an empty section of Boone Pickens Stadium during an Oct. 11 game against Houston while twirling his shirt over his head. The fan, Trent Eaton, accepted the challenge and went through with it.

Other fans eventually joined in. The section grew and it turned into a rowdy section.

Other fanbases caught on, and eventually Tarps Off was appearing at games across the country.

Tarps Off largely went away in the winter, but resurfaced during the MLB season. It boomed again with the St. Louis Cardinals, starting with a group from the Stephen F. Austin club baseball team.

Tarps Off at Ole Miss baseball vs UNC in CWS

The ESPN broadcast of Ole Miss vs North Carolina first showed a group of fans with Tarps Off midway through the game.

Advertisement

They formed outside North Carolina's bullpen in left field.

By the top of the seventh inning, the Tarps Off group had expanded even further in the outfield.

2026 College World Series schedule

All times Central

Friday, June 12

• Game 1: West Virginia 7, Troy 5

• Game 2: Ole Miss vs. North Carolina, 6 p.m. on ESPN

Saturday, June 13

• Game 3: Oklahoma vs. Alabama , 2 p.m. on ESPN

• Game 4: Georgia vs. Texas, 7 p.m. on ESPN

Sunday, June 14

• Game 5: Troy vs Game 2 loser, 1 p.m. on ESPN

• Game 6: West Virginia vs Game 2 winner, 6 p.m. on ESPN

Monday, June 15

• Game 7: Game 3 loser vs Game 4 loser, 1 p.m. on ESPN

• Game 8: Game 3 winner vs Game 4 winner, 6 p.m. on ESPN

Tuesday, June 16

• Game 9: Game 5 winner vs Game 6 loser, 1 p.m. on ESPN

• Game 10: Game 7 winner vs Game 8 loser 7 p.m. on ESPN

Wednesday, June 17

• Game 11: Game 6 winner vs. Game 9 winner 1 p.m. on ESPN

• Game 12: Game 8 winner vs Game 10 winner, 6 p.m. on ESPN

Thursday, June 18

• Game 13 (if necessary): TBD, ESPN

• Game 14 (if necessary): TBD, ESPN

CWS finals championship series

Best-of-three

• Game 1: Saturday, June 20, 7 p.m. on ESPN

• Game 2: Sunday, June 21, 1:30 p.m. on ABC

• Game 3: Monday, June 22, 6 p.m. on ESPN, if necessary

Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for The Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: College World Series 'tarps off' meaning explained for shirtless fans